Maybin's left knee progressing well

By Jamal Collier / MLB.com

SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin is progressing well in his rehab from the damage to his posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. He ran for the first time since he injured the knee after landing on it while attempting to catch a fly ball on June 9.

Maybin has been doing some upper-body workouts almost every day while mixing in lower-body routines three to four times a week.

"I've been able to get some good work in, and I've still been able to hit and swing the bat, which has been a good thing," Maybin said.

Maybin has spent time doing agility exercises in the training room and cardio on the bike, and his wrist finally feels good. He had missed 45 games earlier this season with a right wrist impingement before the PCL injury sidelined him again.

He returned for a four-game series against the Rockies in June, and went 5-for-18 with a home run, four RBIs and four stolen bases before suffering the latest setback in the 26-year-old's career.

"With a ligament tear, there's certain protocol," Maybin said. "Just trying to do what they tell me to do and just take everything in stride."

It's still early, but manager Bud Black said the signs he's seen from Maybin have been encouraging.

"The little steps that he's taking are good signs," Black said. "But, he's still a ways away from ramping up the baseball activities."

O'Sullivan soaks in San Diego homecoming

SAN DIEGO -- Even though he grew up in North Carolina, Padres outfielder Cameron Maybin remembers hearing about a player in San Diego named Sean O'Sullivan.

When Maybin saw O'Sullivan in all-star games, he thought for sure O'Sullivan would end up as a pretty good third baseman due to his strong bat.

Turns out, O'Sullivan became a pitcher, and last night started a game in his hometown for the Padres, the team he grew up rooting for.

Walking from the bullpen to the dugout before the game is when O'Sullivan tried to soak in as much of the atmosphere as possible. O'Sullivan's hitting prowess was on display, too. He clobbered a pitch off the center-field wall in the third inning for a double and second career hit.

Manager Bud Black complimented O'Sullivan for battling through his emotions and navigating himself from trouble time after time.

"Lot of nerves, lot of adrenaline, so that was tough to calm down to go out there and pitch," O' Sullivan said.

The Giants put multiple men on base in every inning after a 1-2-3 opening frame, but only pushed across two runs against him. He finished the game after throwing 102 pitches in five innings, allowing two runs on six hits.

However, O'Sullivan was tagged with the loss and the game turned sour after he left, as the Giants scored eight runs off the Padres' bullpen.

"I thought [I did] an OK job," O'Sullivan said. "There were a couple situations there where I thought it could've got out of control. Thought I made a pitch when I needed to."

O'Sullivan's family was in the stands and his dad, Paul, gave a television interview during the fourth inning where he sounded more impressed about his son's approach at the plate than worried about his pitching.

"We love watching him hit," he said.

Marquis' walks don't concern Balsley

SAN DIEGO -- Jason Marquis has issued 65 walks this season, more than any pitcher in the Major Leagues.

However, Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley doesn't mind the walk total for Marquis, and there is no effort to slow them down.

"Some of those walks, I call them 'navigating his way through a ballgame,'" Balsley said. "He's stubborn and he doesn't actually pitch around guys. He's going to throw the ball where he thinks they can't put it in play hard."

So, Marquis won't give in and throw a fastball down the middle on 2-0, when he'd rather just start on the next batter with a fresh count.

And the results have been there for Marquis. He is 9-4 with a 3.77 ERA.

"Out of all the guys I've seen here, I think Jason navigates his way through a game better than anybody I've ever seen," Balsley said.

"Other guys, I would want them in the strike zone more, changing speeds. Jason has a knack in there on how to do it, and it rarely burns him. On occasion, it does. But if he continues pitching the way in the second half that he did in the first half, the walks won't bother me at all."

Jamal Collier is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.